Ministry Council Summary of Actions (6-8 November 2009)

1. The Ministry Council met Friday-Sunday, November 6-8, 2009, at St. Columba Conference Center, Bartlett, TN, as part of the Ministry Council Retreat which included the Ministry Council and Ministry Team Staff and Elected Members.
2. Fourteen of the twenty-two Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Mandy Clark, Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Rickey Page, Toni Prosser, Gwen Roddye, Sam Romines, Roy Shanks (Excused:  Richard Hughes. Iwao Satoh, Leo Whinery, Wayne Wood; Absent:  Hillman Moore); Youth Advisory Members:  Billy Black (Excused: Emma Shoaf; Absent: Corey Faulkner); Advisory Members: Robert Rush, Sam Suddarth; (Excused: Jonathan Clark); Director of Ministries: Edith Gholson.
3. Fifty-one other Ministry Team Staff and Elected Team Members attended the Retreat allowing time for getting acquainted with one another and the work of each team, team building, planning, and worship. As a team-building exercise, all retreat participants worked cooperatively to assemble six bicycles which were then presented to six children selected by the Boys & Girls Club of Memphis.
4. Received the Director of Ministries Report from Edith Gholson including travel plans to Colombia in January, 2010, with Bob Watkins and Lynn Thomas, and to Asia in late Spring, 2010.
5. Due to the collaborative efforts of all within the Center, Microsoft Office is now in use at the Center. In addition, technology updates at the Center continue with the implementation of Raiser’s Edge and Financial Edge software over the next few weeks.
6. The final draft of the Personnel Manual is ready for the Council to review and comment before December 1^st and will go into effect January 1^st, 2010.
7. Met to address ongoing methods of communication, transparency, and confidentiality.
8. Approved the amount of the housing allowance for clergy staff as required by the IRS.
9. New staff since our last meeting: Mark J Davis, Communications Ministry Team Leader, and Milton Ortiz, Pastoral Development Ministry Team Leader.  The CIT is receiving applications for the new Accounting Supervisor position.
10. Received the Nominating Committee report and elected officers: Gwen Roddye-Chairperson; Jill Carr- 1^st Vice Chairperson; Carlton Harper-2^nd Vice Chairperson; Elizabeth Horsley-Secretary.
11. Next Meeting Date: February 5-6, 2010, (Friday morning through early Saturday afternoon) at the Center in Cordova, TN. The Ministry Council and all Ministry Team Elected Members will open and close in joint meetings with the majority of the time used for separate meetings.